Mechanical aid for covering belt buckles



Oct. 16, 1962 A. DRlTZ 3,058,865

MECHANICAL AID FOR COVERING BELT BUCKLES Filed Feb. 18, 1960 INVENTOR.

Arthur Drifz HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,158,865 MEQHANitIAL AID FGR COVERING BELT BUCKLES Arthur Dritz, 171 Beach at 125th St., Rock-away Park 94, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 18, was, Ser. No. 9,625 2 Claims. or. 154-535 This invention generally pertains to a laminated struc ture which is useful for covering belt buckles. More specifically, this invention pertains to a multi-ply laminated structure useful in making fabric covered belt knuckles from fabrics of difierent color.

Background As a consequent of the revival of home dressmaking a great demand has arisen for buckle frames which the home dressmaker can cover with fabric matching the fabric of the belt or garment with which the buckle is to be used, or contrasting therewith in any desired manner. Many types of such buckle frames are available on the market. Most comprise telescopable top and bottom frame pieces. The home dressmaker will cut a layer of covering material, such as fabric, to the appropriate size and shape, and then that covering material will be wrapped around the upper frame piece so as to cover the exposed surfaces thereof and the lower frame piece then will be inserted into the upper frame piece, being held in assembled position in any desired manner.

However, since the application of a layer of fabric covering material belt buckle frame involves a degree of skill and dexterity which many do not possess, various mechanical aids have been devised for facilitating this operation. These mechanical aids are all generally similar in that they consist of a sheet of pliable foundation material, one side of which is adapted to be adhered to the desired fabric and the other side of which is adapted to be fastened to the belt buckle. Adhesives on the surfaces of the pliable foundation may be used to facilitate adherence of the fabric and also fastening to the belt buckle. Alternatively, as is shown in my prior Patent 2,912,737, the pliable foundation may be fastened to the belt buckle simply by the inherent bendability or formability of the material used for the pliable foundation (for example, when the pliable foundation is made of aluminum or metal foil). Whenever pressure-sensitive adhesives are used in connection with the pliable foundation material, one or more strippable paper cover sheets are usually also used so as to protect the adhesive until such time as it is ready for use.

Two examples of these prior art mechanical aids are shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical aid of the type shown in U.S.P. 2,912,737 which comprises a sheet of metal foil 22 which has its undersurface coated with a layer of pressuresensitive adhesive 23 and the adhesive is in turn covered with an easily releasable or strippable paper sheet 24. The sheet of metal foil 22 is of a size and shape generally corresponding to that of the buckle frame to which it is to be applied but somewhat larger so that it can serve as a template for the cutting of the covering layer of fabric, as is more fully set forth in said patent. FIGURE 3 shows a somewhat different type of mechanical aid comprising a foundation sheet 26, adhesive layers 28 and 30 on either side of said foundation sheet and upper and lower strippable paper layers 32 and 34. When strippable paper layers 32 and 34 are removed, one adhesive layer may be used for adherence to the desired fabric and the other adhesive layer used for adherence to the buckle.

One objectionable feature of mechanical aids of the type described above is that when one of the strippable paper layers is removed and a loosely woven fabric is applied in its place, the contrast in color or light reflection between the fabric and the background material which it covers may be so apparent that the overall attractiveness of the fabric belt buckle may be considerably diminished.

Objects It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novel mechanical aid for covering belt buckles with fabric which will not result in an unattractive color or light reflective contrast between the fabric and the background material which it covers. Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a mechanical aid for covering belt buckles which will permit the user to select the color or light reflection level which is to be disposed as background immediately below the fabric.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, elements, arrangements and combinations which comprise the present invention, preferred embodiments being set forth in the following description and drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

The Drawings The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and similar numerals refer to similar parts, throughout the several views of the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical aid useful in preparing fabric covered belt buckles.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of one prior art mechanical aid.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of another prior art mechanical aid.

FIGURES 4 to 10 inclusive show cross sectional views of preferred embodiments of mechanical aids in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE ll is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. I

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a cross sectional view of a novel mechanical aid in accordance with this invention comprising upper and lower strippable paper layers 42 and 44 respectively, upper and lower adhesive layers 46 and 48 and foundation member 49. In this embodiment upper adhesive layer 46 has a lighter color as compared with lower adhesive layer 48; said difference being achieved by merely choosing adhesives having different colors or by using the same adhesive for both layers and adding darkening pigments to the bottom adhesive layer.

If a very dark fabric is to be used on a belt buckle, the lower strippable layer (preferably of paper) is removed and the fabric substituted in its place. The dark background furnished by the dark colored adhesive layer 48 does not result in a contrast between the fabric and its background and a suitable fabric covered buckle is thereby produced. If a very light colored fabric is to be used on a belt buckle, the upper strippable paper layer 42 is removed and the light colored fabric substituted in its place. The light color of the adhesive layer 46 blends nicely with the light colored fabric and there is no objectionable contrast between the fabric and its background. Now if a fabric of medium darkness is to be used with the belt buckle, the upper strippable layer 42 is removed and the fabric substituted in its place. The light color of the adhesive layer 46 blends nicely with the light colored fabric and there is no objectionable contrast between the fabric and its background. Now if a fabric of medium darkness is to be used with the belt buckle, the upper strippable layer 42 is removed and the fabric substituted in its place so that it overlies adhesive layer 46. However, since this can result in an objectionable contrast between the medium colored fabric and the light colored adhesive layer 46, it would be desirable to do something which would increase the darkness of the background. With the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 this is possible because the plurality of minute holes or openings 47 which are spaced throughout foundation material 49 permit some of the darker colored adhesive from adhesive layer 48 to penetrate through the foundation material to the other side by simply applying pressure on the side containing the darker adhesive layer. The degree of pressure exerted and the duration of the pressure exerted will govern the extent to which the light colored adhesive layer 46 is darkened by the inflow of dark colored material from the dark colored adhesive layer 48.

FIGURE illustrates another mechanical aid arrangement whereby the colors of the adhesive layer may be varied. This mechanical aid comprises upper and lower strippable paper layers 53 and 57 respectively, upper and lower light colored adhesive layers 52 and 58 respectively, and upper and lower dark colored adhesive layers 56 and 54 respectively, and a foundation member 59. If a very dark fabric is to be used on a belt buckle, the lower strippable layer is removed and the fabric substituted in its place. If the dark background furnished by the very dark colored adhesive layer 54 is too dark a contrast for the fabric then by the suitable application of pressure (or heat) the two adhesive layers 54 and 58 will begin to merge together with the result that the background adhesive layer behind the fabric will gradually lighten, depending upon the extent and duration of the heat and/ or pressure. Similarly, if a very light colored fabric is to be used on the belt buckle, the upper strippable paper layer 53 is removed and the light colored fabric substituted in its place. If the light color of the light colored adhesive layer 52 presents too great a contrast behind the fabric, then by a suitable application of pressure or heat the light colored adhesive layer 52 can be caused to merge with the dark colored adhesive layer 56 so that the result will be an adhesive layer of a somewhat darker color immediately behind the light colored fabric.

Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 wherein 60 represents the foundation material of the mechanical aid, 62 represents small spheres of encapsulated coloring material, 64 represents a light colored adhesive material and 66 represents a strippable top cover (e.g. of paper). Since in this case 60 represents a metal foil it can be formed to the surface of a belt buckle by suitable bending without the need for an adhesive, but it will be realized that if the foundation 60 consisted of plastic, rubber, cloth or heavy paper material, then an adhesive layer 61 and strippable layer 66A could be provided (see FIGURE 8). The strippable top cover 66 is adapted to be removed and replaced with a piece of fabric having a pattern of both light colors 65 and dark colors 63. If the adhesive layer 64 is light colored then it will present an unfavorable contrast under the dark portion 63 of the fabric, particularly if the fabric is loosely Woven. However, the light colored layer of adhesive under the light portion 65 of the fabric is quite satisfactory and it could, therefore, not be a solution to simply substitute a dark colored adhesive for the light colored adhesive 64. Provision of the encapsulated coloring material 62, however, does enable one to selectively color or shade the background and the adhesive in localized areas. For example, if pressure or a sharp pointed instrument such as a pin is carefully applied to the dark areas 63 of the fabric, the encapsulated coloring material will be ruptured thus releasing small amounts of the coloring material in localized areas with the result that adjacent areas of the adhesive background will become more darkly colored. The encapsulated material may for instance, comprise minute droplets of dye or other coloring material encased in a layer of wax or gelatine. In this fashion one could reduce the amount of contrast between the fabric and the background, thus resulting in a fabric covered belt buckle of pleasing appearance.

Instead of consisting of encapsulated coloring material, element 66 could consist of a chemical or mixture of chemicals which would change from a light to a dark color upon the application of heat (e.g. the point of a hot iron). A color change in the appropriate localized areas could then be effected in substantially the same manner set forth in the previous paragraph. Chemicals which change color upon the application of heat include cobalt chloride; cobalt chloride mixed with nickel chloride; cobalt acetate mixed with sodium nitrate; sodium chloride; sodium nitrate; copper sulfate; ammonium chloride; silver nitrate; ferric sulfate; silver nitrate mixed with ammonia; powdered indigo, etc.

Another and perhaps the simplest embodiment is shown in FIGURE 9 wherein the foundation 96 for the mechanical aid has one surface covered with a light colored adhesive layer 94 and the other surface covered with a dark colored adhesive layer 98. When a dark fabric is to be used for the belt buckle the strippable layer 99 is removed and the fabric attached thereto so that the dark colored fabric will have a dark background. In this event, strippable layer 92 is removed and adhesive layer 94 attaches itself to'the belt buckle. On the other hand, if a light fabric is to be used for the belt buckle, the strippable layer 92 is removed and the fabric attached thereto so that the light colored fabric will have a light background. In this event, strippable layer 99 is removed and adhesive layer 98 attaches itself to the belt buckle. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 9 can, therefore, be considered as a dual background mechanical aid which permits the user to choose either a dark background or a light background for the fabric which is to cover the belt buckle.

Stillanother embodiment is shown in FIGURE 10 which is quite similar to FIGURE 9 with the exception that an adhesive layer of medium darkness has been in effect disposed between the light adhesive layer and the dark. adhesive layer. 81 and 87 are strippable layers, 82 is a light colored adhesive, layer 86 is a dark colored adhesive layer, and 84 is an adhesive layer having a color shade intermediate the colors of adhesive layers 82 and 86. 85 and 83 are preferably both foundation materials (such as stretchable plastic). The desired background for any fabric can readily be chosen in essentially the same manner which has been set forth with reference to FIGURE 9.

The foundation or base sheet mentioned in the various embodiments may be made out of a number of suitable flexible materials including rubber, cloth or plastic. It is preferred that the foundation be either constructed of such a material or fashioned in such a manner that a user, with a little extra effort, can stretch the foundation to a limited degree (usually less than 10%). Mylar polyethylene and vinyl plastic films stretch slightly and this stretch can be increased by incorporating properly spaced perforations in the foundation. In addition, score cuts or perforated cut lines are of assistance in facilitating stretching. A Mylar plastic sheet of about .001 inch thickness is particularly preferred although polyethylene or rubber impregnated or rubber treated cloth or paper are also suitable.

The surfaces of the strippable layers or release papers can be treated with silicones or other suitable materials to facilitate stripping.

Although pressure sensitive adhesives have been specifically mentioned, and are in fact preferred, other types of adhesive could be used. For example, materials which become adhesive only upon the application of heat, pressure, water or chemicals could be used.

Mylar is a polyethylene terephthalate manufactured by DuPont (see Patent 2,465,319).

FIGURE 11 is another embodiment of a belt buckle cover in accordance with this invention which is quite similar to FIGURE 1 with the exception that the foundation layer F is provided with additional means for stretching. Stretchability of the foundation layer F is important in order that the buckle be formed without wrinkles, particularly at the point where the cloth is bent around the corners and sides of the buckle. Certain materials are inherently stretchable, as for example, rubber or cloth. Foundation layers made of Mylar, polyethylene and vinyl plastic film can be stretched slightly, and this stretch can be increased by properly spaced perforations or score cuts. Perforations C, small score cuts B and larger score cuts E are shown in FIGURE 11 and each present greater opportunity for the foundation layer to be stretched when placed on a buckle.

Also, although a pressure sensitive adhesive has been mentioned, it is contemplated that the pressure sensitive adhesive could be replaced with a rubber based adhesive similar to rubber cement, This rubber cement can be formulated so that the adhesive itself is actually a thin film which also stretches. As a result, when the pattern is stretched in covering the buckle, the rubber based adhesive stretches with the plastic (Mylar or polyethylene) foundation layer. When the film is perforated or score cut, the adhesive tends to seal itself, thu containing its film characteristics. As the pattern is stretched and the score cuts open up or separate, the adhesive stretches and continues to cover the opening. In this way the coloring adhesive continues to uniformly cover the buckle. The features of utilizing adhesive that can be stretched in proportion to the plastic foundation film is a distinct advantage that is novel and useful.

Another novel embodiment which will accomplish essentially the same results as the embodiments shown in FIGURES 4-11, and which has certain advantages is shown in FIGURE 12. FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view of a mechanical aid comprising upper and lower strippable paper layers 102 and 104, upper and lower colorless adhesive layers 106 and 108, and a double laminated foundation layer consisting of upper lamination 110 and lower lamination 112. Upper and lower laminations 110 and 112 are preferably of contrasting shades, colors or patterns so that one thereby has the choice of two shades, colors or patterns as a background for the fabric covering the belt buckle, as noted with respect to the embodiments shown in FIGURES 4-11.

FIGURE 13 is essentially similar to FIGURE 12 except that the laminated foundation layer 110-112 has been replaced with a foundation layer consisting of a single ply of material 114, one surface of which has been treated or impregnated with a coloring material so that opposite surfaces of said ply will have contrasting colors, shades or patterns, for the same purposes as noted with respect to FIGURES 4-11.

The trademark Mylar is used by Du Pont Company to refer to polyethylene terephthalate plastic materials (see Polyesters and Their Applications published by Bjorksten Research Laboratories and Reinhold Publishing Company, 1956).

What is claimed is:

1. A belt buckle covering device for facilitating the covering of belt buckles with cloth which comprises:

(a) a foundation layer of flexible, pliable perforatable sheet material, having two substantially planar faces,

(b) the surface of one of said two planar faces containing a layer of a first adhesive material and the surface of the other of said two planar faces containing a layer of a second adhesive material, said layer of first adhesive material being considerably darker in shade and color in comparison to said layer of second adhesive material.

(0) a releasable protective sheet covering disposed over each outer layer of applied adhesive material.

(d) said releasable protective covering being adapted to be replaced by a fabric material of a selected shade of darkness, whereby the user of the belt buckle device is permitted to manipulate the placement and disposition of said layers of first and second adhesive materials so that a background shade of darkness which the user considers most complimentary to the fabric material overlying the adhesive can be achieved.

2. The belt buckle covering device of claim 1 wherein said foundation layer contains a plurality of minute perforations extending from one face to the other which permit the passage of a portion of said adhesive layers from one side of said foundation layer to the other side when pressure is applied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,244 Carter Mar. 1, 1949 2,565,509 Marcin Aug. 28, 1951 2,599,359 Banks et al. June 3, 1952 2,624,089 Eaton Jan. 5, 1953 2,654,927 Tansman Oct. 13, 1953 2,751,276 Eaton June 19, 1956 2,800,423 DeSWart July 23, 1957 2,800,457 Green et al. July 23, 1957 2,877,765 Bunyan Mar. 17, 1959 2,889,799 Korpman June 9, 1959 

1. A BELT BUCKLE COVERING DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE COVERING OF BELT BUCKLES WITH CLOTH WHICH COMPRISES (A) A FOUNDATION LAYER OF FLEXIBLE, PLIABLE PERFORATABLE SHEET MATERIAL, HAVING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR FACES (B) THE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID TWO PLANAR FACES CONTAINING A LAYER OF A FIRST ADHESIVE MATERIAL AND THE SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID TWO PLANAR FACES CONTAINING A LAYER OF A SECOND ADHESIVE MATERIAL, SAID LAYER OF THE FIRST ADHESIVE MATERIAL BEING CONSIDERABLY DARKER IN SHADE AND COLOR IN COMPARISION TO SAID LAYER OF SECOND ADHESIVE MATERIAL. (C) A RELEASABLE PROTECTIVE SHEET COVERING DISPOSED OVER EACH OUTER LAYER OF APPLIED ADHESIVE MATERIAL. (D) SAID RELEASABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING BEING ADAPTED TO BE REPLACED BY A FABRIC MATERIAL OF A SELECTED SHADE OF DARKNESS, WHEREBY THE USER OF THE BELT BUCKLE DEVICE IS PERMITTED TO MANIPULATE THE PLACEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF SAID LAYERS OF FIRST AND SECOND ADHESIVE MATERIALS SO THAT A BACKGROUND SHADE OF DARKNESS WHICH THE USER CONSIDERS MOST COMPLIMENTARY TO THE FABRIC MATERIAL OVERLYING THE ADHESIVE CAN BE ACHIEVED. 